Piston ring



Dec. 29, 1931. E. J. GOODYEAR PISTON RING Filed May 31, 1930 3 n my 1 sive to manufacture,

' from the spirit of the Patented Dec. 29, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. GOODYEAR, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA PISTON RING Application filed May 31, 1930. Serial No. 458,462.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in piston rings used in pistons of internal combustion engines wherein prevailing high pressures are difiicult to confine.

Important objects of the invention'are to provide a piston ring, of the character described, which aflords positive compression for the most eflicicnt engine-performance, which prevents oilpumping without excessive cylinder wall pressure, which embodies novel means for directing oil back to the engine crank case, which provides a double seal obviating the necessity of the usual number of rings, which will hug the cylinder wall at all times without danger of piston drag, which provides correct cylinder wall lubrication, and which instantly adjusts itself to seal perfectly the entire ring roove..

Further objects of t e invention are to provide a device, of the class stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efiicient in its use, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpenand install.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing invention.

' In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side view of a piston provided with a ring constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view thereof.

Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, bottom plan views of the upper and lower ring sections.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of my improved piston ring greatly enenlarged.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 denotes a piston of any suitable construction and of the type commonly employed in internal combustion engines. The piston is provided with the usual, circumferentially extending ring groove 2, which is preferably 65 disposed adjacent to the top 3 thereof.

My improved piston ring comprises a pair. of resilient, split ring sections, respectively indicated at 4 and 5, which are combinedly associated and mounted in the ring groove 2, of the piston 1, the ring section 4 being disposed inwardly and above the lower ring section 5. k

The thickness of the upper ring section 4 is approximately commensurate to the height of the piston ring groove 2, to allow the proper functioning of the, former in the latter in the usual manner.

The upper ring section 4 is formed with an annular flange 6, which projects outwardly from the outer wall 7 thereof, at the upper end of the latter. The outer wall 7, of the upper ring section 4, is further provided with an angularly disposed portion 8, which is disposed at the lower end of said outer wall 7.

The lower ring section 5 is substantially triangular in transverse cross section, and includes an angularly disposed inner wall 9, which engages and operates against the an- 30 gularly disposed wall portion 8, of the upper ring section 4, as clearly illustrated in the enlarged view in Figure 5.

The periphery 10 of the annular flange 6, of the upper ring section 4, and the periphery 35 11,'of the lower ring section 5, engage the wall of the cylinder in which the piston and ring are adapted to operate in the assembly of the upper and lower ring sections 4 and 5,

a circumferentially extending groove 12 is formed between the lower side of the projecting flange '6 and the outer end portion of the angularly disposed inner wall 9, of the lower section ring 5, V

The bottom of the lower section ring 5 is formed with an annular groove 13, which extends throughout the length thereof. The lower land 14, of the ring groove 2, is provided with a plurality of angularly disposed A ports 15, which establish communication betion with the latter,

tween the interior of the piston 1 and the ring'groove 2. The relative positions of the annular groove 13 and the ports 15 is suchthat the latter will normally be in registrawhen the lower right section 5 is in its proper operative positlon in the piston ring groove 2.

During the operation of a piston provided with my improved ring, the two rings sec tions 4 and 5, constituting the latter, will instantly adjust themselves to perfectly seal the entire ring groove 2 and prevent any leakage therethroug This is effected by the wedging action imparted by the lower ring section 5 against the upper ring section 4:, whereby the said ring sections will be snugly forced against respective lands of the ring groove 2. Further, the high compression functioning within the circumferential groove 12 in the ring will also tend to force the two ring sections 4 and 5 against respective lands of the ring groove 2, and to force the lower ring section 5 against the engine cylinder wall to establish a most efficient operative engagement with the latter.

In the use of my improved ring, any oil escaping by the latter will be instantly returned to the engine crank case, as the normal high compression of theengine will drive such oil through the direct passage provided by the circumferential groove 12, the an nular groove 13 and the ports 15.

It will here be noted that while the annular groove 13 is preferably formed in the bottom of the lower ring section 5,'it is apparent that such annular groove may be formed in the lower land 14 of the piston ring groove 2 instead. without in any manner affecting the function and operation of the latter, or said annular groove may be provided in the bottom of the upper ring section 4.

The present invention provides a .most efficient device of its kind for establishing a positive, n01 1-leak, double sealing, compression ring, which will prolong the life of an engine equipped therewith, and maintain same at maximum efficiency.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a piston ring, of the character described, comprising an upper ring section being provided with an annular flange projecting outwardly from the upper end of the outer wall thereof, said outer wall being provided with an angularly extending lower portion and having the lower end of the latter disposed inwardly, a lower ring section being provided with an angularly extending inner wall corresponding to and seating against said angularly extending lower portion of said outer wall, the upper end of said angularly extending inner wall projecting above the upper end of said angularly extending-portion of said outer wall and providing a circumferentially extending groove between said flange and the said projecting upper end of said inner wall of said lower ring section, said projecting upper end of said inner wall provi ing an inwardly declining bottom for said groove.

2. In combination, a piston ring, of the character described, comprising an upper ring section being provided with an annular flange projecting outwardly from the upper end of the outer wall thereof, said outer wall being provided with an angularly extending lower portion and having the lower end of the latter disposed inwardly, a lower ring section being provided with an angular- 1y extending inner wall corresponding to and seating against said angularly extending lower portion of said outer Wall, the upper end of said angularly extending inner wall proj ectin above the up er end of said angularly extending portion oi said outer wall and providing a circumferentially extending groove between said flan e and the said projecting upper end of sai inner wall of said lower ring section, said projecting upper end of said inner wall providing an inwardly declining bottom for said groove, said lower ring section having an annular groove formed in and opening on the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

EDWARD J. GOODY AR. 

